Spain’s highest sports authority accepted a request from the League to postpone a couple of weekend matches involving clubs with too many players called up for the World Cup qualifiers in South America.
The matches between the leader Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao and that of the second Atlético de Madrid and Granada will be played on days to be determined later. Madrid was going to have to be local against Athletic, while Atlético was going to visit Granada for the ninth round of the championship this weekend.
For the second month in a row, FIFA extended the international window for the South American teams to play a third match of the qualifying rounds, with less than two days before the resumption of domestic tournaments in Europe. This prevents several players from having enough rest time after rejoining their clubs and playing league matches.
In September, the League received the endorsement of the Higher Sports Council to postpone the Sevilla-Barcelona and Villarreal-Alavés duels for the same reason.
The Spanish federation opposes the postponements, warning that it is a “dangerous precedent” for international sport that domestic leagues suspend matches due to the calls of the national teams.
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